Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 3 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Verſe 1. Now it came to paſſe on the third day]
THat is,Seder. Olam. on the fifteenth day of the monethmonth Niſſan, as the Hebrew Annals ſay. Cum adhuc ferverent popularium ſuorum preces, (whiles the prayers of her Countreymen, like thoſe of Cornelius, Acts 10.4.) were come up for a memorial before God: ſhe takes her opportunity and ſpeeds accordingly: ſhe knew that ſweet paſſage, Pſalme 145.18. The Lord is nigh to all that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the deſire of them that feare him, he will alſo heare their cry and will ſave them, &c. Joh. Manl. loc. Com. 142.This ſhe could afterwards ſeale to and ſay, This poor ſoul cried, and the Lord heard her, and ſaved her out of all her troubles, Pſal. 34.6, Luthers widow confeſſed, that ſhe never underſtood many of Davids Pſalmes, till ſhe was in deep affliction.
That Eſther put on her royal apparel] She knew that Hanc homines decorant, quam veſtimenta decôrant. People are uſually regarded as they are habited; & good cloaths conduce much to the ſetting forth of beauty to the beſt. Like a right daughter of Sarah, ſhe knew that the outward adorning,I Pet. 3.3, 5. by plaiting the haire, wearing of gold, and putting on of apparel, would not at all commend her to God, (in obedience to whom ſhe had wanzed her face with faſting, and truſted that he would put upon her his comelineſſe) But conſidering that the King, her husband looked much at ſuch things, ſhe laid aſide her faſting-weeds, and put on her beſt, Ind uit ſe regno (ſo the Original runs) ſhe clothed her ſelf in rich and royal aray: as Queen Mary of England did on her Coronation day: her head was ſo laden with precious ſtones, that ſhe could hardly hold it up, ſaith the Story: and all things elſe were according. Whether Eſther came to the King, leaning upon one maid, and having another to hold up her traine, as Joſephus hath it, is uncertain. 'Tis likely ſhe left her Attendants without, leſt ſhe ſhould draw them into danger: and contented her ſelf (when ſhe went in to the King,) with thoſe faithful companions, Faith, Hope and Charity, who brought her off alſo with ſafety, according to Prov. 18.10. and 14.26.
And ſtood in the inner Court of the Kings houſe] A bold adventure queſtionleſſe, but the fruit of the prayer of faith, this was it that put ſpirit and metal into her. What if ſhe were Queen? ſo had Vaſthi been, and yet diſcarded for her diſobedience. Beſides, how could ſhe tell, either what the Kings minde toward her was (he had not ſeen her of a monethmonth, and if Haman knew her to be a Jeweſſe, what would not he ſuggeſt againſt her? Or, what was the minde of God, till he had ſignified it by the event? It was therefore an heroical courage in Eſther, proceeding from her ſaith, which when it is driven to work alone without ſenſe, then God thinks it lieth upon his credit to ſhew mercy.
Over againſt the Kings houſe] Where ſhe might ſee him, and be ſeen by him. This ſhe did, Nec temerè,Lib. 12.3. 1 Kings 10.18. nec timidè, which, ſaith one, is the Chriſtians Motto.
And the King ſat upon his Royal Throne] Royal indeed, as Athenaeus deſcribeth it. But yet ſhort of Solomons, much more of the Lord Chriſts, ſupported and ſurrounded with an innumerable company of Angels. It ſhould be our earneſt deſire to ſee this King of glory upon his Throne: to ſee him and enjoy him. Auſtin wiſhed that he might have ſeen three things, 1. Romam in flore. 2. Paulum in ore. 3. Chriſtum in corpore. Rome in the flouriſh, Paul in the Pulpit, Chriſt in the fleſh. Venerable Bede cometh after, and correcting this laſt wiſh, ſaith, Imo verò Chriſtum in ſolio ſedentem. Let me ſee Chriſt upon his Throne-royal rather. Eſay ſaw him ſo ch. 6.1. and took far more delight therein, then the merry Greeks did or could do at their Olympick games, celebrated at the ſame time, in the one thouſand five hundred and fourtieth yeare after the Flood, as the divine Chronologer computeth it.Bucholc. 541.
Verſe 2. And it was ſo] God the great Heart-diſpoſer ſo ordered it.
That when the King ſaw Eſther the Queen, &c.] Beautified by God in a ſpecial manner, as was Moſes, Acts 7.20. Stephen, Acts 6.15, &c. And ſome faces we know do appear moſt orientally faire, when they are moſt inſtamp't with ſorrow.foreign.
That ſhe obtained favour in his ſight] Joſephus ſaith, that at firſt the King frowned upon her, ſo that ſhe fell into a ſwoon before him. Rex autem voluntate, arbitror Dei, mentem mutavit, i. e. But the King as God would have it, changed his minde, and cheared her up. How true this is, I know not; But this I know, that the wrath of a King is as the roaring of a lion, which is ſo terrible, that it aſtonieth all that heare it,Amb bex. l. 6. c. 5. and that Omne trahit ſecum Caeſaris ira malum. Sir Chriſtopher Hatton, being check't and threatened by Queen Elizabeth, died ſoon after: Neither could the Queen, having once caſt him down with her word only, raiſe him up again, though ſhe viſited him,Camd. Eliz 406. and comforted him. Eſther here was ſoon raiſed and relieved.
Dejicit ut relevet, premit ut ſolatia praeſtet:
Enecat, ut poſſit vivificare Deus.
And the King held out to Eſther the golden Scepter] He did not kick her out of his Preſence, as ſome Cambyſes would have done, neither did he command her to the block, as Henry the eighth did his Anne Bullen, upon a meer miſpriſion of diſloyalty: neither yet did he caſhiere her, as he had done Vaſhti for a leſſe offence: but, by holding out his Scepter ſhewes his gracious reſpects unto her. This was the Lords own work, as was likewiſe that of old, that Laban ſhould leave Jacob with a kiſſe, Eſau meet him with a kiſſe, Gen. 33.4. where the word kiſſed hath a prick over each letter in the Original, to ſhew the wonder of Gods work in changing Eſaus heart from his former hatred. Let a mans wayes pleaſe the Lord, and men ſhall quickly befriend him. This is compendioſiſſima hominum gratiam conſequendis via, ſaith Lavater here, the readieſt way to win favour with all others. When David was once a man after Gods heart, whatſoever he did, pleaſed the people.
So Eſther drew near, and touched the top of his Scepter] With her hand, ſaith the Chaldee: with her mouth, ſaith the Vulgar Tranſlation. This ſhe did either in token of ſubmiſſion, or for the avoiding of danger; for, as Joſephus ſaith,foreign. Joſeph. Col. 3.19. He that touched the Kings Scepter, was out of the reach of evil. Wives ſhould ſubmit themſelves to their own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Submiſſion includeth Reverence, (in heart, ſpeeches, geſtures) and obedience to all their husbands lawful commands and reſtraints. This is no more then is meet, ſaith the Apoſtle.
Verſe 3. Then ſaid the King unto her.] He perceived both by this her bold adventure, and alſo by her countenance and habit, that ſhe had ſome very great ſuit to him. He therefore accoſteth her (as the Lord did the Angel, Zech. 1.13.) with good words, and comfortable words. And this way one man may be an Angel, nay, a God to another, Gen. 33.10. Indeed it is God that comforteth by the creature as by a conduit-pipe. The aire yieldeth light as an inſtrument, the water may heart, but not of it ſelfe. The Lord put it into the heart of Ahaſhuerus, to chear up Eſther in this ſort: wherein alſo he did but his duty, for no man ever yet hated his own fleſh, but nouriſheth and cheriſheth it, even as the Lord the Church; ſo ought men to love their wives as their own bodies; He that loveth his wife loveth himſelf, Eph. 6.28, 29.
What wilt thou Queen Eſther?] That he called her by her name, and with ſuch an honourable attribution, was a ſigne of no ſmall favour. The hearts of Joſephs brethren were ſo big ſwolne with ſpite and ſpleen, that they could not call him by his name, but ſaid, Behold, this dreamer, Gen. 37.19.foreign. John 7.11. So the Phariſees called our Saviour, This fellow. And the Jewes ſought him at the feaſt, and ſaid, Where is he? they could not finde in their hearts to ſay, Where is Jeſus? So Saul asked not for David, much leſſe for his ſon-in-law David, but for the ſon of Jeſſe, by way of contempt. Chriſt tells his diſciples that their enemies ſhall caſt out their names for naught, Luke 6.22. and chargeth them, courteouſly to ſalute their enemies, calling them friendly by their names, Mat. 5.47.
And what is thy requeſt?] q. d. Feare not to utter it, I am very earneſt to know it, and fully reſolved to grant it. It was more troubleſome to Severus the Emperour to be asked nothing, then to give much. When any of his Courtiers had not made bold with him, he would call him and ſay, Quid eſt cur nihil petes? What meaneſt thou to ask me nothing? Hitherto ye have asked me nothing (ſaith the King of Saints to his beloved Eſther) Ask that your joy may be full, John 16.24. he is worthily miſerable, that will not make himſelf happy by asking.
It ſhall be given thee to the half of the Kingdom] A proverbial rather then a prodigal ſpeech, and much in this Kings mouth. If ſome ambitious Semiramis had had ſuch an offer, what ill uſe might ſhe ſoon have made of it? The dancing Damoſel made no good uſe of the like from Herod. But a Bee can ſuck honey out of a flower, that a flie cannot skill to do. Eſther prudently and modeſtly improveth the immoderate offer of the King, and conceiveth good hope. How much more may we (upon thoſe exceeding great and precious Promiſes given us by God) of an exuberancy of love, and a confluence of all comforts for this life and a better? Eſpecially ſince God doth not pay his Promiſes with words,P…t. as Sertorius is ſaid to have done; neither is he off and on with his people (nec mutatur, nec mentitur) but performeth all with the better, as Naaman preſſed the Prophets man, to take two talents, when he asked but one. The widow of Sarepta had more then ſhe could tell what to do with: her cruſe never ceaſed running till ſhe had no room. The Shunamite would ask nothing of the Prophet, nor make uſe of his offered courteſie. He ſends for her again, and makes her a free Promiſe of that which ſhe moſt wanted and deſired, a ſonne, 2 Kings 4.16. Gods kindneſſe is beyond all this. he giveth his ſervants what they forget or preſume to ask: and ſends his Spirit to help them, and to forme their prayers for them, and thereby to ſeale them up to the day of Redemption, to aſſure them of the Kingdome.
Verſe 4. And Eſther anſwered] She did not preſently poure forth her whole heart into the Kings boſome, raile againſt Haman, beg for her people, &c. but prudently reſerveth her ſelfe till a fitter opportunity. Unadviſed open-heartedneſſe is a fruit of fool-hardineſſe, Prov. 29.11. A fool uttereth all his minde, (ye ſhall have it preſently, ſo near his mouth doth it lie, that all will out ſuddenly) but a wiſe man keepeth it in till afterwards, or, in an inner r…m, (in ulteriori animi receſſu as the word may be rendred, till he ſee his time to produce it.
If it ſeem good to the King] Princes muſt have ſilken words given them, as the mother of Artaxerxes (haply Eſther) told one. The rule of old was foreign, ſhort or ſweet.
Let the King and Haman come this day to the banquet] She knew that the King loved Hamans company, and eſpecially at a banquet. It was policie in Rebecca to provide ſuch ſavoury meat as the old man loved: ſo here. Be wiſe as Serpents. David is commended for his prudent, (and thereby proſperous) deporting himſelfe in Sauls houſe, 1 Sam. 18. God gave Solomon politick wiſdom exceeding much. Who is a faithful and a wiſe ſervant, Mat. 24. Jam. 3.13.ſaith our Saviour, &c? And who is a wiſe man, and endued with knowledge, (ſaith St. James) amongſt you? Let him ſhew out of a good converſation his works, with meekneſſe of wiſdom. But if it were policy in Eſther to invite Haman whom ſhe hated, was it likewiſe Piety? did ſhe not diſſemble? R. Solomon ſaith, She invited Haman alone with the King, that other Courtiers might envie him, and ſo undermine him. But that's but a ſorry excuſe, neither doth Lyra's allegation of her good intention much mend the matter. They anſwer better, who ſay, that ſhe invited him, that ſhe might ane…e him to his face: and ſome off all matter of his excuſe or eſcape. Hereby alſo ſhe would ſhew, ſaith Lavater, that ſhe accurſed him, not out of wrath or revenge: but that ſhe was drawen to it, and as it were driven by meer neceſſity.
Verſe 5. Then the King ſaid, Cauſe Haman to make haſte] Heb. Accelerate or haſten Haman, ſc. to an ill bargain, as it proved the very next day. Look how thunder commonly happens, when the sky ſeemeth moſt clear: ſo Haman ſaw himſelf inveloped with a ſtorme, in one of the faireſt dayes of his fortune. Philoſophers ſay, that before a ſnow, the weather will be warmiſh: when the winde lies; the great rain falls, and the aire is moſt quiet,foreign Dic. when ſuddenly there will be an earthquake.
So the King and Haman … ] Who but the King and Haman? So Tiberius called Sej…, My Sej… Partaker of all my cares and counſels, … and made him his Colleague in the Empire. But he ſoon caſt him from ſupreme honour, to extreme ignominy; ſo that the ſame Senatour, who accompanied him to the Senate, conducted him to priſon, they which ſacrificed unto him as to their god, which kneeled down to him to adore him, ſcoffed at him, and loaded him with contempt and concumelies. So Caeſar Borgia, that reſtleſſe Ambitioniſt, who emulating Julius Caeſar, would needs be aut Caeſar, aut nullus, was ſhortly after & Caeſar, & nullus, being ſlain in the Kingdom of Navarre.
Verſe 6. And the King ſaid unto Eſther at the banquet of wine] Which ſeemeth to have been after the other banquet of dainties and ſweet-meats, during which they drank water. Only the King had aurum potabile, a golden water prepared,foreign. Athenaeus foreign, Inter pocula. which he and his eldeſt ſonne alone might drink: and none elſe might taſte of it on paine of death. At this latter Banquet they drank wine freely one to another: and, inter poculorum laetitiam, as Joſephus hath it, when his heart was now merry within him, after he had drunk wine abundantly, as the Latine hath it, the King ſaid unto Eſther,
What is thy Petition, — to the halfe of the Kingdome The Promiſe the King reneweth, as ſuppoſing that Eſther durſt not propoſe her requeſt, becauſe of the greatneſſe of the matter: and aſſuring her that ſhe ſhould have it, though never ſo great. And ſaith not the God of heaven as much to his ſervants and ſuppliants, Eſay 45.11. Jer. 33.3? Why then ſtand they off in a ſinful ſhamefacedneſſe, and improve not to the utmoſt this divine indulgence, this precious priviledge? why ſay they not with Luther, (who well underſtood the latitude of this royal Charter) Fiat mea voluntas, Let my will be done: my will I ſay, becauſe the ſame with thine, Lord? why do they not grow upon God, and work upon his Promiſe, (which is ſo exceeding broad, Pſal. 119, 96.) as David did, 1 Chro. 17.23, 24, 25? he goes over it again, and yet ſtill encroacheth, verſe 26. he preſſeth and oppreſſeth it, till he hath expreſſed the ſweetneſſe out of it, and ſo we have all good leave to do, Eſay 66.11. even to ſuck and be ſatisfied by thoſe full-ſtrutting breaſts of divine conſolation. But what mean thoſe foule great babies the Papiſts, to pray the Virgin Mary to exhibit unto them the breaſts of her grace,Gab. Biel. &c? And what frontleſſe blaſphemers are they to ſay, that God the Father hath ſhared his Kingdome with her: keeping his Juſtice to himſelf, and giving his Mercy to her to diſpoſe of? And this (ſay they, that they may not ſeem to be mad without reaſon) was prefigured by Ahaſhnerus his ſaying to Eſther. I will grant thy requeſt to the half of my Kingdom.
Verſe 7. My Petition and my requeſt is] She beſpeaketh the King in his own very words: and ſo muſt we if we mean to ſpeed in heaven, Take unto you words, and ſay,Gen. 38.25. Take away all iniquity, and give good, &c. Produce Gods own words in prayer, and ſay (as ſhe did to Judah) Whoſe are theſe? He loves to be ſet upon in his own words, to be preſſed with his Promiſe, to be ſued upon his bond. This David knew, and therefore cries, Pſal. 86.11. Ʋnite my heart to feare thy name: it is as if he ſhould ſay,Ezek. 11.19. Thou haſt promiſed, Lord, to give me one heart; behold I finde mine heart divided, my thoughts diſſipated, and my ſelf diſabled for duty, (for Anima diſperſa fit minor) Ʋnite it, I beſeech thee, &c. This is the way to make our prayers to be nigh the Lord day and night, as Solomon phraſeth it, 1 Kings. 8.59.
Verſe 8. If I have found favour in the ſight of the King] As ſhe had, not ſo much by her beauty and bravery (wherein Vaſht perhaps might eaſily have compared with her) but by the finger of God, who tameth to his Elect the fierceſt creatures (as he did the Lions to Daniel, and other ſavage beaſts to the Martyrs, whom they would not meddle with,) and turneth the Kings heart, as the rivers of water, into what channel ſoever he pleaſeth to put it, Prov. 21.1. as the Plowman doth the water-courſe with his paddle, or the Gardiner with his hand.
And if it pleaſe the King] See verſe 4. and ſubmit to God, James 4.7.
And I will do to morrow as the King hath ſaid] She had learned to preferre opportunity before time. There might be ſome by, at this firſt banquet, whoſe company ſhe liked not: or ſhe might not yet have ſo clear an anſwer in her own heart to her former prayers; and therefore deſireth ſome farther time that night to ſeek God: whatever the reaſon of not putting it off till dext day was, Gods holy hand was in it, that Mordecai might b… firſt ſo greatly honoured, and Hamans high Gallowes prepared. Illum utiquie magi… …eo…rum, R…ge… autem magis benevoli… magiſque fecit attentu…, ſaith Rupertus. Hereby ſhe made Haman more ſecure, and the King more kinde and attent.
Verſe 9. Then went Haman that day forth joyful] Saeculi laetitia eſt impunita nequitia, ſaith an Ancient, He looked upon himſelf now as no leſſe favoured of the Queen, then of the King, and was puffed up with this new honour, as a bubble is with a childes blaſt in a walnut-ſhell, with a little ſope, but it ſhortly after falls down again into his eyes, and vexeth him.
And with a glad heart] But he rejoyced, as many more do, in a thing of nought, Am. 6.13. And the end of this his mirth was heavineſſe, Prov. 14.13. It was riſus Sardonius, like that of thoſe, who being ſtung with the Tarantula (a viper in Italy) die laughing and capering. Or as the Dolphin, that ſporteth moſt before a ſtorme. Or as the little fiſhes, that ſwimming merrily down the ſilver ſtream of Jordan, fall ſhortly after into the dead ſea. Haman doubtleſſe held himſelf now the happieſt man alive. as having the royalty, not of the Kings care only, but of the Queens too, as he fooliſhly fancied.Pſ. 10.3, 5, 6. This wicked on boaſted of his hearts deſire, and as for all his enemies, he puffed at them. He ſaid in his heart I ſhall not be moved, I ſhall never be in adverſity. Herodotus ſaith of Apryes King of Egypt (Pharaoh-Hophrah Jeremy calleth him, chap… 44.) that he conceited and bragged that his Kingdome was better ſetled to him, then that any,Herod. l 2. either God or man could remove him: yet was he afterwards taken and hang'd by his own ſubjects.Ael. var. hiſt. l. 2. Aelian tells us, that Dionyſius the Tyrant, thought it impoſſible that he ſhould have been caſt out of Sicily, but it proved otherwiſe. How ſuddenly were Alex…nder the great Conquerour, and Julius Caeſar the perpetual Dictator, cut off, Pſ. 118.12.and quenched as the fire of thornes? Sic tranſit gloria mundi. The worlds greateſt darlings, are in no better condition, then the Bull that goes to be ſacrificed with garlands on his head, and muſick before him: but ſuddenly fells the ſtroke of the murthering axe.
But when Haman ſaw Mordecai in the Kings gate] There he ſat, and would not ſtir an inch, for Hamans greatneſſe: as reſolute he remained, (not withſtanding the bloody Edict now publiſhed) as was Rawlins White the Martyr in Queen Maries dayes. The Biſhop of Landaffe pretended to pray for his Converſion: after which he ſaid, Now Rawlins how is it with thee? Wilt thou revoke thine opinions or no? Surely, (ſaid he) my Lord, Rawlins you left me, and Rawlins you finde me, and Rawlins, by Gods grace I will continue. Act & Mon. 1415. Ibid. 1430.The heavens ſhall aſſoon fall, ſaid another, as I will recant. This, the mad world ſtiles ſtiffeneſſe, ſelf-willedneſſe, fool-hardineſſe, &c. as was before noted; but the Saints do it out of Chriſtian courage, an invincible ſaith, and zeale for Gods cauſe and Kingdome.
That he ſtood not up, nor moved for him] No, not he, ne minimo quidem obſequiolo, he neither moved nor muted. For he looked upon him firſt as a vile perſon, and therefore fit to be ſlighted, Pal. 15.4. Next, as an utter enemy to God and his people, a ſworn ſword-man to the devil. Laſtly, Mordecai herein ſhewed himſelf conſtant to his principles, and to his former practice, which a good man may not eaſily alter, left all be queſtioned. Beſides, ſhould he but have any whit yielded, Haman would have been thereby hardened, and his pride heightened. He therefore very honeſtly perſiſteth in his purpoſe, and giveth that wretch leſſe reſpect then ever.
He was full of indignation againſt Mordecai] Full, as heart could hold, of hot wrath: ſo that he gloweth like a fire-coal, Et ferè crepat medius. So unſatisfiable is ambition, ſo reſtleſſe, and ſo vindictive.
Verſo 10. Nevertheleſſe Haman refrained himſelfe] Much ado he had to forbeare miſchieving him: he was faine to force himſelf thereunto, as the word ſignifieth; for his fingers even itched to be having him by the eares, or to be bathing in his blood. This he did not, haply becauſe he durſt not; becauſe Mordecai was the Kings ſervant, his door-Keeper, as 'tis thought, and ſo went under his protection. It would therefore have reflected upon the King himſelf, if he ſhould lay violent hands on him. Moſt ſure it is, that God held his hands, and preſerved Mordecai for further good to his Church Precious in the ſight of the Lord is the death of his Saints: neither will he ſend them to bed, till they have done their work.
And when he came home, he ſent and called for his friends] This had been a wiſe mans part, if he had done it for any good purpoſe. But as he was in an ill caſe to conſult, as being full of rage, ſo he minded nothing but revenge, and therefore adviſed with none but ſuch as would ſay with him, and thereby haſten his downfal.
And zereſh his wife] Ʋt conſiliariorum primam & praecipuam. That ſhe was wife above her ſexe. See chap. 6.13. But had ſhe been as wife as Pilates wife was. She would not have given here ſuch peſtilent counſel, but have warned her husband of medling with juſt men. Have theſe workers of iniquity no knowledge, that they eate up Gods people, as they eat bread? that they make account to make but a breakfaſt of them?Pſal. 14.4.
Verſe. 11. And Haman told them of the glory of his riches] Favourites (obſerving their molliſſima fandi tempora,) get many times much wealth under Princes: as did Sejanus under Tiberius, Seneca under Nero, that rich and wretched Cardinal Henry Beauford, Biſhop of Wincheſter, and Chancellour of England, in the reigne of Henry the ſixth, Cardinal Woolſey, under Henry the eight. That Haman had well-feathered his neſt, appears by his large offer to the King of ten thouſand talents of ſilver, &c. Now riches render a man glorious in the worlds eye; hence they go coupled together. Prov. 3.16. and 8.18. Hence that of Labans grumbling ſonnes, Gen. 31.1.Quicquid non acquiritur damnum eſt. Sen. Jacob hath taken away all that was our fathers, (nay, not all, but as avarice made Sejanus think all which he acquired not, to be loſt; ſo did theſe loſels) and of that which was of our fathers hath be gotten all this glory. But what were all this glory of his riches, if, for want of children, Haman ſhould leave it to thoſe, Quos vel neſcit, vel nolit, as Auſtin hath it,De C D. l. 5. c. 18. to ſtrangers or enemies? He tells them therefore
Of the multitude of his children] His ſonnes and his ſucceſſours like to be. I ſay, likely to be, not ſure to be, for Omnia ſunt hominum tenui pendentia filo. God gave Leda, Luctuoſam foecunditatem, as Hierom ſaith of her,Epíſt 7. a ſorrowful fruitfulneſſe, becauſe ſhe lived to bury her many children. There were two and twenty children, and childrens children of the Houſe of Portugal, betwixt Philip the ſecond of Spain, and that Crown; and yet he out-lived them all, as Hiſtories ſhew,Balthaſ Exuer. and his ſucceſſours held that Kingdome till within theſe ſew years. It is but a vain thing therefore for a man to boaſt of the multitude of children, ſith he may either loſe them,Utinam aut coeiebs vixiſſem, aut orbus per…iſſem. or live to wiſh as Auguſtus the Emperour did, Oh that I had either lived a Batchelour, or died childeleſſe!
And all the things wherein the King had promoted him] Wherein, but Wherefore, he ſheweth not. Dignity ſhould wait upon deſert; but many times we ſee it otherwiſe, and it was of old complained of, Pſal. 12. ult. He telleth what the King had done for him, but not a tittle what God. God was not in all his thoughts. He might juſtly have been twitted, as once that Pope was pithily, when he had engraven upon the gates of his new-built Colledge. Ʋtrecht (where he was borne) planted me; Lovain (where he was bred) watered me; but Ceſar (who had promoted him to the Popedome) gave increaſe: a merry Paſſenger under-wrote Hic Deus nihil fecit, here God did nothing. God had done much for him, but for a miſchief to him; as he once gave the Iſraelites quailes to choke them, and a King to vex them; as Saul gave Michal to David to be a mare to him; and as our Saviour gave Judas the bag, to diſcover the rottenneſſe of his heart. This Bernard calleth, Miſericordiam omni indignatione crudeliorem. God gives outward bleſſings to wicked perſons to furniſh their enditement out of them: as Joſeph put a cup into his brethrens ſack, to pick a quarrel with them, and lay theft to their charge.
And how he had advanced him above the Princes] What an impudent Thraſo was this Haman? this odious bragging of his, Gregory referreth to that third kinde of pride,Lib. 25. Marol. ſuch as Gods ſoule abhorreth, and ſurely puniſheth; as he did in the Prince of Tyre, Nebuchadnezzar, Antiochus, Herod, whoſe hearts were liſted up with their eſtates, as a boat, that riſeth with the riſing of the water, whoſe bloods and goods roſe together.
Corde ſtat inflato, pauper honore duto.
But as the Peacock ſo delighteth to be ſeen, and to behold his own taile, that he diſcovereth his filthy parts behinde, ſo do vain glorious Bragadochio's. It is therefore very good counſel, that a grave Divine giveth to ſuch, as are advanced above others. Carry humble hearts, and adde grace and vertue to your places, elſe they ſhall prove but as an high gibbet to bring you to more diſgrace in this world, and torment in the next.Whatcleys Archetype. That of the Poet alſo is very ſavoury and ſoveraign.
Deſinat elat is quiſquam confidere rebus:
Magna repentè ruunt,Claudian. ſumma cadunt ſubitò.
Verſe 12. Haman ſaid moreover] He makes no end of vaunting and vapouring; and all to aggravate the indignity done him by Mordecai, in not ſtooping to ſo great a perſonage.
Now Eſther the Queen did let no man come in, — but my ſelfe] This he miſtaketh for a ſpecial favour, when as Eſthers banquet proved no better to him, then Semiramis her tomb did to them that rifled it; they expected to finde treaſure, but met with a deadly poiſon.
And to morrow am I invited, &c.] Where thou ſhalt (as hypocrites do at the Lords Table) eate thy bane, and drink thy poiſon; yet art thou over-joyed as if highly favoured. A temporary may receive both the word audible and the word viſible, (the Sacrament) with much ſeeming joy: which yet is but only as the commotion of the affections in a dream: It fareth with ſuch in the end, as with one that ſleeping on the top of a ſteep rock, dreameth of great matters befallen him, but ſtarting ſuddenly through joy thereof, tumbleth headlong into the ſea, and breaketh his neck at the bottom.
Verſe 13. Yet all this availeth me nothing] It is ſeldome ſeen, (ſaith a Right Reverend Interpreter here) that God allows unto the greateſt darlings of the world a perfect contentment. Something they muſt have to complaine of, that ſhall give an unſavoury verdure to their ſweeteſt morſels, and make their felicity miſerable. Totum hoc non eſt utile mihi, I enjoy nothing of all this. No more did Ahah, when ſick of Naboths vineyard, 1 Kings 21.4. His heart did more afflict and vex it ſelf with greedy longing for that bit of earth, then the vaſt and ſpacious compaſſe of a Kingdom could counter-comfort.
So long as I ſee Mordecai the Jew ſitting at the Kings gate] So tormentful is envy, if it cannot come at another mans hurt, it will feed upon its own. Who would ever ſet by the profits, pleaſures and preferments of this preſent life, that yield ſo little ſound and ſincere contentment to thoſe that have moſt of them? In the very purſuit of them is much anguiſh, many grievances, feares, jealouſies, diſgraces, interruptions, &c. and after the unſanctified enjoyment of them (if any ſuch thing there be, for even in laughter the heart is ſorrowful, Prov. 14.13. and there is a ſnare, (or a cord) in the ſin of the wicked, Prov. 29.6. to ſtrangle their joy with) followeth the ſting of conſcience, that will inexpreſſibly torment the ſoule throughout all eternity: beſides the vexation of it, to ſee ſuch as Mordecai the Jew, whom they once would not have ſet with the dogs of their flocks, ſitting not at the Kings gate, but on Chriſts own Throne, Rev. 3.21. as Partakers of all his glory.
Verſe 14. Then ſaid Zereſh his wife] Thra…o's ſhall never want for Gnatho's. Such as have firſt flattered themſelves, ſhall have enow others to ſooth them, and to ſay with them. Zereſh ſets the motion of revenge on foot, ſhe was a fit helve for ſuch an hatcher, wittily wicked. The wit of women hath wont to be noted, for more ſudden and more ſhrewd.
And all his friends unto him] Indeed no friends, becauſe flatterers and furtherers in evil. Sed divitibus ideò amicus deeſt, quia nihil deeſt. The rich hath many friends, ſaith Solomon, ſeeming friends, but true enemies, paraſites, brokers, cole-carriers. good to ſcoure an hot Oven withal. Such a one was that Adullamite to Judah, Gen. 38.20. Jonadab to Amnon, 2 Sam. 13.2, 3. thoſe green-headed counſellours to Rehoboam, &c. Haman ſhould have made a better choice, and have come more calme to counſel. It is not good ſowing in a tempeſt, nor taking phyſick in a fit. Theſe friends of Haman deſerved to ſpeed as ill as thoſe of Sejanus did, who were executed with him, becauſe they ſerved his luſt, and added …ewel to his flame.
Let a Gallowes be made of fifty cubits high] A cubit was halfe a yard at leaſt. In thoſe parts they had trees very tall, or they might piece one to another. But why ſo high a Gallowes,Daniels hiſt. fol. 19. but for the greater diſgrace to Mordecai, and terrour to all that ſhould ſlight the Kings Favourite? So Knute. the firſt Danique King of England, cauſed the falſe Edricks head to be ſet upon the higheſt part of the Tower of London. And our Gun-powder Traitours were ſerved in like manner.Daniels hiſt. f. 19.
And to morrow] But why ſo ſoon, ſith in caſe of life, Nulla cunctatio ſatis diuturna eſſe poſſit? were it not fit that he were tried firſt? Hamans malice will bear no delayes, he is in pain till the buſineſſe be diſpatched: he cannot ſleep till he have cauſed this innocent man to fall, Prov. 4.16. though he fall with him; as the dragon doth with the Elephant, whoſe blood he ſucketh out, and periſheth by his falling weight.Plin l. 8 c 12
Speak thou unto the King] It will be but dictum, factum, he will lightly ſay as Zedekiah did to his Princes, requiring Jeremiah to the ſtocks. The King is not he that can deny you any thing. How much better that Romane Emperour, who being to ſubſcribe a warrant for execution of a certain Malefactour, cried out, Non niſi coactus, full ſore againſt my will? and another, Ʋtinam literas neſcirem, I would I could not write my name. So when one Jone Butcher was to be burned for her deſerts, all the Council could not prevail with our Edward the ſixth, of a long time to ſet to his hand.Act & Mon 1177. But theſe wicked friends of Haman, queſtion not the Kings readineſſe to gratifie him, though they could not but know, that Mordecai had once at leaſt ſaved the Kings life, chap. 2. and what could they tell, but the King might now remember it? Sed Deus quem deſtruit dementat, when God has a minde to undoe a man, he firſt infatuateth him.
That Mordecai may be hanged thereon] And that before Haman; door, that he may feed his eyes on that ſweet ſpectacle, and ſay as that bloody Prince Charles the ninth of France did, when he ſaw the noble Admirals carcaſſe hanging and ſtinking upon the Gallowes, Quam ſuavitèr olet cadaver inimici! Ep. hiſt Gall. 150.151.How ſweetly ſmelleth the dead body of an enemy!
Then go thou in merrily with the King, &c.] They knew that he could not be heartily merry till then, and forced ſmiles are but as counterfeit complexion, the hypocriſie of mirth. So Richard the third would not ſit down to dinner till the Lord Haſtings were beheaded: nor Stephen Gardiner, till he had the newes brought him that the Biſhops were burnt at Oxford. Oh that we could be as reſtleſſe,Act & Mon. f. 16…2. till the hindrances of our true ſpiritual joy were removed; I mean thoſe ſtubborn corruptions that will not ſtoop to the power of grace.
And the thing pleaſed Haman] As being agreeable to his malicious humour, and that which he doubted not to be able to effect. Man purpoſeth, but God diſpoſeth.
And he cauſed the Gallowes to be made] Little thought he for whom. Aequnm eſt ut faber quas fecit compedes ipſe geſtet. So let thine enemies periſh, O Lord.